Bethel, Vermont, USA (East, West) (Bethel-Gilead) (Lilliesville) (Lympus)
1849 Bethel

Windsor Co. Bethel is watered by branches of White River, and possesses good mill sites. Soap stone is found here in great quantities and of good quality ; much of it is sawed and transported. Garnet in small, but perfect crystals, is also common. The surface of Bethel is broken and mountainous, but the soil is warm and good for grazing. Considerable business is done at both villages. East and West; the latter is the largest.

Boundaries. North by Randolph, east by Royalton, south by Stockbridge, and a small part of Barnard, and west by Rochester.

First Settlers. This township was chartered to John Payne, John House, Dudley Chase, and others, Dec. 23, 1779, containing thirty-six square miles. The first township chartered by the government. The settlement of this town commenced in the fall of 1779, by Benjamin Smith. A small stockade fort was built here at the commencement of the settlement. The town was organized in 1782.

First Ministers. The Rev. Thomas Russell was settled by the Congregational Society in 1790; dismissed in 1794. From that time no minister was settled over that society till 1837. An Episcopal Church was organized by the Rev. John C. Ogden in 1792.

Productions of the Soil. Wheat, 2,646 bushels ; Indian corn, 242 bushels : potatoes, 6,640 bushels; hay, 450 tons; maple sugar, 7,060 pounds ; wool, 642 pounds.

Distances. Thirty-one miles south by west from Montpelier, and thirty north-west from Windsor. The great Northern Railroad passes through this town.

A gazetteer of Vermont... by John Hayward Boston - Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason 1849

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